Littlehampton RNLI diverted from initial call to assist in search.
Littlehampton’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat Renée Sherman and volunteer crew were already out at sea responding to a 999-telephone call from a member of the public at 9.58am on Saturday 24 June, reporting that a leisure craft with two male adults onboard, appeared to have broken down.
During the journey to the scene the lifeboat received a VHF report that there was a person in the water, just off the shore at Sea Lane, Ferring. Following a conversation between the lifeboat and the UK Coastguard the lifeboat was diverted. Both Shoreham lifeboats had also launched to assist in the rescue along with a coastguard helicopter that had been scrambled. On arrival at the scene it was confirmed that the person had been recovered from the water and was in the care of the paramedics and police. Both Shoreham lifeboats were stood down and returned to their station and the helicopter returned to its base.
Littlehampton lifeboat returned to its initial task of assisting the broken-down leisure craft. The casualty had remained at anchor at the original location, a quarter of mile south of the harbour entrance. The lifeboat crew rigged up a tow line and the casualty was towed back to Littlehampton Harbour, where it was safely secured alongside Town Quay. The lifeboat returned to the station at 10.52am where it was made ready for service.
RNLI media contacts
- Ray Pye, Littlehampton RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer / 07854 074688, email [email protected]
- Tim Ash, RNLI Public Relations Manager (London/East/South East) on 0207 6207426, 07785 296252 email [email protected]
- Paul Dunt, RNLI Press Officer (London/East/South East) on 0207 620 7416, 07786 668825 email [email protected]
- For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789 email [email protected]
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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